Roofing

How Much Do Composite Shingles Cost?

Composite shingle roofing is the most common type of roof found on residential homes today. While composition shingles cost more than asphalt, they’re more affordable than wood or slate and can last up to 50 years!

Composite Roof Shingles Cost

Like most materials on the market, your composition roof cost will largely come down to the quality of materials. Higher-grade materials will cost more, but will surely last longer and require fewer repairs over the long haul. As you can see below, composite shingle roofs cost between $480 and $1,600 per square (covers 100sf) for materials alone:

Bargain Grade Composite Shingles: $480 to $700 per square

Builder Grade Composite Shingles: $570 to $830 per square

Value Grade Composite Shingles: $770 to $1,150 per square

Architect Grade Composite Shingles: $1,100 to $1,600 per square

Roof Installation Cost

Beyond materials, especially with a composition roof, you should hire a professional roofer to install or replace your composite shingles. Roofing installation costs of composite shingles depend on a number of factors, including the complexity of the home’s roof as well as the roof’s pitch. For composite shingles, a roof with a pitch of 4/12-- that is, the roof rises 4 inches for every 12 inches in length-- is considered average. Any roof with a steeper pitch will likely mean greater labor costs.

Homeowners can expect to spend between $100 and $400 for supplies as well as between $1,200 and $1,900 in labor. Removing an old roof will be an additional charge. As with any home improvement project, to ensure you find the right roofer for the job, make sure you talk to a few roofing contractors.

What Is A Composition Roof?

Composite shingles are a type of asphalt shingle that falls under two categories, organic and fiberglass, with three subtypes of 3-tab, laminate/dimensional and architectural/premium. Different manufacturers have their own “recipes” when it comes to producing composite shingles. Each company will offer different styles, colors and warranties.

Composition Shingles FAQs

How Long Does A Composite Roof Last?

Composite roofs generally last at least 20 years, but most manufacturers offer warranties up to 50 years.

What Does A Composition Roof Look Like?

In short, a composition roof can look like any other roofing material on the market. However, upon a closer look, composite roof shingles are long rectangles with three large notches. Once all installed, it looks like any other shingle roof and can easily imitate wood, slate or clay.

Are Asphalt Shingles the Same as Composition Shingles?

No, asphalt shingles and composite shingles are not exactly the same. While asphalt shingles are cheaper, composition shingles are more versatile, durable and environmentally friendly.

Are Composition Shingles Fire Resistant?

Yes, composition shingles are fire resistant

What is the Average Cost to Replace A Roof?

The average cost to replace a roof is approximately $7,000. The price will heavily depend on your material of choice, roofer, roof condition, roof size and roof pitch. Determine your roof pitch with our roofing calculator.

Composite Shingle Roof Prices Vs. Other Roofing Materials

Roof replacement or installation is no small project. Beyond durability, maintenance and location, most homeowners choose roofing materials based on price. As such, you need to know average roofing costs for all materials on the market. Be sure to compare comp shingle roof costs to all roofing materials below:

Composite Shingles Vs. Asphalt Shingles

As you research roofing materials online, you’ll quickly see that asphalt and composite shingles are quite similar. However, with a closer look, there are key differences all homeowners should know. After all, installing the wrong roofing material for your area could spell disaster for your home.

Firstly, comp shingles are made from multiple ingredients such as slate, laminate, wood, fiberglass and more. Asphalt consists of a paper or fiberglass mat with asphalt above it.

Next, as said previously, composition roofs last longer than asphalt. Considering that stronger materials are used, it makes perfect sense that composite shingles could last twice as long as asphalt.

Composition roofs usually use recycled materials and are therefore, eco-friendly. More often than not, asphalt shingle roofs are not environmentally friendly.

Finally, as we’ve already shared, asphalt shingles are more affordable than composite shingles. In fact, asphalt costs roughly 75% less than composite shingles. However, since composition roofs last longer, their lifetime costs are not that far off.

Types Of Comp Shingles

Composite shingles are a type of asphalt shingle that falls under two categories, organic and fiberglass, with three subtypes of 3-tab, laminate/dimensional and architectural/premium.

Organic composite shingles are composed of a core of felt or paper, which is coated in asphalt, then topped with a layer of ceramic granules. They last about 20 to 30 years and are more flexible than the second type, which helps reduce damages caused by temperature shifts.

Fiberglass composite shingles on the other hand are made with a base of fiberglass, which is reinforced with a synthetic resin and coated with asphalt. Due to the fiberglass, they are a little more brittle than organic composite shingles and thus, less able to withstand sudden shifts in temperature, which expand and contract materials. Fiberglass composite shingles are more water resistant because of the resin coating.

The three subtypes of composite shingles are 3-tab, laminate/dimensional and architectural, sometimes called premium. A 3-tab composite roof is a single layer of shingle and is available in a variety of colors, depending on manufacturer. They generally have a warranty between 20 and 30 years.

Laminate/dimensional composite shingles are the most common and are double the thickness of 3-tab shingles. Laminate shingles have two shingles affixed together to create a look of depth as opposed to the flat, one-dimensional look of 3-tab. The warranty for this type is generally between 30 and 50 years.

Composite Shingles Manufacturers

As time evolves, more and more composite roofing brands are popping up. However, a few composite manufacturers stand above the rest.

Three of the most common composite shingle manufacturers are EcoStar, CertainTeed and Davinci. EcoStar offers a certified Green product and has shingles that have been approved for historic buildings in need of repair and preservation.

CertainTeed, like EcoStar, offers composite shingles that are almost indistinguishable from beautiful slate or shake. Davinci’s products are polymer-based and offer the top fire and impact ratings available, as well as a long warranty.

As you talk to local roofers, ask them what manufacturer they would recommend for your roof’s layout and location.

Composition Shingle Advantages

Composite roofs bring a host of benefits to roofs across the country. Composite roof advantages include:

Composite shingles offer a wonderful balance between cost, aesthetics and value. Many companies offer composites that look just like slate, wood or other much more expensive materials.

Composite roofs are impact resistant and fire resistant.

Composition roof warranties are a great value at over 20 years, often offering guarantees as long as 50 years.

Composites can be found to match any style and are suitable for any project.

Composite shingles are significantly cheaper than slate, shake or clay, while offering the same beautiful look.

In some cases, composite resists cracking and warping better than the products they’re meant to resemble.

Composition Shingle Disadvantages

No roofing material is perfect. Before installing or replacing any roof, you must look at downsides as well. The primary disadvantages of composition shingle roofs are:

Composite shingles are about four times more expensive than asphalt.

Installing composites does require professional installation, as there are particular tools used to install the material.

Composite shingles are also somewhat vulnerable to wind damage, but they are easy to restore, reducing your overall roof repair costs.

Unless a little more money is put into finishes that resist moss and mildew in humid climates, composite shingles are prone to suffering decay and unsightly growth.

Find A Local Roofer

If you want to make the wise compromise between cost and appearance, composite shingles are certainly worth considering. The variety of styles, which are often indecipherable from much more costly materials, and the long warranties make them hard to beat.